cnidaria Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun hydras; polyps; jellyfishes; sea anemones; corals
    phylum Cnidaria; phylum Coelenterata; Coelenterata.

WordNet

Cni*da"ri*a noun
Etymology
NL. See Cnida.
Wordforms
plural
Definitions
  1. (Zoöl.) A comprehensive group equivalent to the true Coelenterata, i.e., exclusive of the sponges. They are so named from presence of stinging cells (cnidae) in the tissues. See Coelenterata.

Webster 1913